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Taxes & Economy

Ethanol: Another dose of snake oil?

• Nathan Benefield
• February 14, 2008

Another article, from the Star-Tribune, on the hype of ethanol, which summarizes the issue pretty well: 1)Ethanol results in more carbon emissions – “By clearing forests and grasslands…

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Taxes & Economy

Federal “Stimulus” Rebate Calculator

• Nathan Benefield
• February 14, 2008

Here is a tool to calculate for federal rebate under the federal “stimulus” package, courtesy of Consumerism Commentary Blog. (You will need to have or know your 2007 federal…

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State Budget

Borrowing in 2008-09 Budget

• Nathan Benefield
• February 14, 2008

Below is some more analysis of the proposed borrowing in Governor Rendell’s proposed budget – $2.6 billion in debt will be issued in 2008-09. (More on PA’s Total Debt…

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Welfare

The Lesson of Ebenezer Scrooge

• Nathan Benefield
• February 14, 2008

Fantastic article in the Freeman compares and contrasts Ebenezer Scrooge to the proponents of the welfare state: The treadmill, poor law, and union workhouses to which Scrooge…

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Government Accountability

State bonus probe widens to Senate’s GOP caucus

• Nathan Benefield
• February 13, 2008

The Bonus-Gate investigation extends to the Senate GOP, the Patriot News reports. Former staffer-turned-lobbyist Mike Long was one recipient whe defended the bonus process: Long, a former…

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Education

School choice suggested for Pittsburgh

• Nathan Benefield
• February 13, 2008

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review discusses how a Milwaukee-like school choice program might work in Pittsburgh, after speaking with former Milwaukee mayor John Norquist. Norquist will be speaking at an event on…

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Taxes & Economy

‘Stimulus’ Nonsense

• Nathan Benefield
• February 13, 2008

Arthur Laffer in the Wall Street Journal on the Stimulus Nonsense of robbing Peter to pay Paul: All of the stimulative effects of the rebate to the recipients…

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Government Accountability

Rendell: Conservatives don’t like Black people

• Nathan Benefield
• February 12, 2008

Gov. Rendell said today that conservatives (or at least a small, but meaningful percentage) “are probably not ready to vote for an African-American candidate.” He attributes his margin of…

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Education

Don’t write off vouchers

• Nathan Benefield
• February 12, 2008

Robert Enlow in USA Today on the merits of school voucher programs. Enlow is providing the counterpoint to a piece arguing for moving away from the push for…

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Government Accountability

Mommy, why is Vince Fumo in our kitchen?

• Nathan Benefield
• February 12, 2008

The latest Vince Fumo for Senate ad ends with a little girl asking,”Mommy, why is that man in our kitchen?” Oh, so many punchlines to choose from. I’m going…

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Taxes & Economy

States of Opportunity

• Nathan Benefield
• February 12, 2008

Wall Street Journal on the net domestic migration from high-tax to low-tax states.

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Education

PHEAA must pay legal fees

• Nathan Benefield
• February 11, 2008

The Commonwealth Court ruled that PHEAA must pay $48,000 in legal fees to the AP, WTAE TV, and the Patriot News for “wanton disregard in withholding public records”:…

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Health Care

The “Cost of the Uninsured”

• Nathan Benefield
• February 11, 2008

Many proposals for “universal health care”, including RendellCare, claim that there will be savings by eliminating what everyone pays on “costs for the uninsured”, or uncompensated care.But a new…

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Taxes & Economy

Consumption of the Rich and Poor

• Nathan Benefield
• February 10, 2008

Interesting analysis in the New York Times of consumption by income category (for a quick summary, click on the chart): If we look at consumption per person,…

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Taxes & Economy

Court strikes down EPA’s emissions rule

• Nathan Benefield
• February 10, 2008

A federal court struck down the federal EPA’s emissions rule in a lawsuit partially funded by Pennsylvania Taxpayers. My understanding of the ruling – and feel free to correct…

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Taxes & Economy

Living Large

• Nathan Benefield
• February 10, 2008

ReasonTV video with Drew Carey on America’s middle class.

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Turnpike Commission’s Posh Travel Spending

• Nathan Benefield
• February 8, 2008

WGAL News 8has a story on the toll-funded travel expenditures for Turnpike CEO Joe Brimmeier, including some high priced dinners. On a trip to Chicago, for…

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Taxes & Economy

Study: Ethanol may add to global warming

• Nathan Benefield
• February 8, 2008

Another study finds that ethanol and biofuels are not “green” and will only increase greenhouse gasses: The study said that after taking into account expected worldwide land-use changes,…

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Health Care

Health Insurance Mandate Update

• Nathan Benefield
• February 8, 2008

Wall Street Journal op-ed by CAHI researchers on the cost of the 1,961 health insurance mandates. A health-insurance “mandate” is a legislative requirement that an insurance company or…

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State Budget

New Borrowing + New Taxes = “Avoidance of Debt”

• Nathan Benefield
• February 8, 2008

In the Post-Gazette, Governor Rendell continues to argue that his insurance tax is a tax: Mr. Rendell strongly denies that the surcharge is a new tax. Instead,…

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Taxes & Economy

Federal Stimulus=$300K per job

• Nathan Benefield
• February 7, 2008

The Heritage Foundation Foundry Blog sums up the “economic stimulus” package just passed by the US Senate. OMB Director Jim Nussle (advocating in favor of the stimulus package),…

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